A Service in Celebration and Thanksgiving for the Life of
David Richard Dollar November 21, 1954 – October 6, 2023
S AT URDAY, OC TOBE R 28, 2023, AT 4 P M
David Richard Dollar David was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Rutherford, New Jersey, with his siblings Jerry, Margaret, and Susan. His parents, college professors John and Muriel Dollar, raised David and his siblings with a keen appetite for learning.
At Dartmouth College, David discovered a passion for Chinese history and culture that would shape the rest of his life. This included study abroad years in Taiwan, participating in a UCLA-Ford Foundation project in Beijing as a young assistant professor of economics, and living with his wife Paige and two children Isabel and Evan in Beijing for almost 10 years while serving first as World Bank Country Director for China and Mongolia and then as Economic and Financial Emissary for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. His professional work for the World Bank, Treasury, and Brookings Institution gained him a reputation as a leading expert on the Chinese economy, and his Brookings podcast Dollar and Sense, on trade issues, was hugely popular.
David was above all a devoted husband to Paige and adoring father to Isabel and Evan. He was “born nice” and always selflessly helped others, professionally and personally. To many, he was the first, and often the only, boss who asked, “Are you happy? Can I make anything easier for you to be productive?” and who led by example, leaving the office promptly at five to be home with family.
Both David’s work and the extensive travel he and family did solidified his belief that we are citizens of the world and that dialogue is necessary to bring down walls. His wit, his intellect, his humility, and his love were vast. We miss him terribly, but are so very, very grateful we had our time together. We honor him by celebrating his life with thankfulness and action.
Donations may be made in David’s name to Doctors without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org) and the American Friends Service Committee (afsc.org). In the words of a friend, these organizations embody David: They embrace multinational goals, are focused on helping people, are non-discriminatory, combine humility and effectiveness in their approaches, and have significant impact by improving lives.
Order of Service Please keep a prayerful quiet as we prepare for worship. The People’s responses are printed in bold.
Prelude
Selections for organ
Please stand as you are able.
Hymn
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy: Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Slane
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe: Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray, your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day. Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace: Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm: Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
—Words: Jan Struther (1901–1953)
Opening Sentences
I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die. And everyone who has life, and has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die for ever. As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger.
For none of us has life in himself, and none becomes his own master when he dies. For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord. So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s possession. Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord! So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.
Remembrances seated
Jerry Dollar, Kenneth Lieberthal, and Isabel Dollar
Collects standing as you are able God be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother David. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Psalm 139:1-16
Read by Regan Miner
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Song sung by all
’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free, ’tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, and when we find ourselves in the place just right, ’twill be in the valley of love and delight.
Simple gifts
Traditional Shaker song
When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we shall not be ashamed. To turn, turn will be our delight, ’til by turning, turning we come round right. —Words: Traditional
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The Gospel standing as you are able Matthew 5:14-16
The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Homily seated
The Rev. Dr. Joshua Daniel
The Lord’s Prayer standing as you are able
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayers
Led by Thomas Dollar
For our brother David, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am Resurrection and I am Life.”
Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for David, and dry the tears of those who weep. Hear us, Lord. You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow. Hear us, Lord. You raised the dead to life; give to our brother eternal life. Hear us, Lord.
You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our brother to the joys of heaven. Hear us, Lord.
Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our brother; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope. Silence may be kept. The Presider concludes with the following
Father of all, we pray to you for David, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May his soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Peace The Presider says to the People
The peace of Christ be always with you. And also with you.
All greet one another in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Commendation
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of humankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
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Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant David. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
Blessing
Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us; so be swift to love, and make haste to be kind, and may the Divine Mystery who is beyond our ability to know but who made us, and who loves us, and who travels with us, bless us and keep us in peace. Amen.
—A benediction by Dr. Edmund Jones, adapted from words by philosopher and writer Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–1887), alt.
Hymn
Dix
For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. For the Church which evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore thy pure sacrifice of love, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For each perfect gift of thine to the world so freely given, faith and hope and love divine, peace on earth and joy in heaven, Christ our God, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
—Words: Folliot Sandford Pierpoint (1835–1917), alt.
Dismissal
Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Allegro maestoso e vivace and Fuga from Sonata No. 2 in c minor, Op. 65
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
# All are invited to a reception in the Great Hall after the service.
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#
Participants in the Liturgy Celebrant
The Rev. Dr. Joshua Daniel
Musician
Anne Timpane
Reader
Regan Miner
Remembrances
Intercessor
Ushers
Isabel Dollar Jerry Dollar Kenneth Lieberthal Thomas Dollar Susan Absher Tom Bauder Bob Burrows Praveen Jeyarajah #
We are glad you are here today to celebrate the life of David Dollar, to mourn and to commit him to God’s eternal care.
St. Columba’s is a community with space for joy as well as sorrow, for exploring faith, deepening connection with God, other people and our creation, participating in ministries of justice and mercy—and space for you. If you would like pastoral support in this time of loss, or to talk about how to participate in the life of God in this community, please contact the Rev. Dr. Joshua Daniel at jdaniel@columba.org. We are here for you. #
Land Acknowledgement
We give thanks that we meet today on the traditional land of the first people of Nacotchtank, who had been its custodians for thousands of years, caring for and nurturing it. We pray for all who live on this land and pay our respects to the native leaders past, present, and emerging. Opening Hymn: Text © 1931 Oxford University Press. Arrangement © OCP Publications. Harmony © 1991 Kevin Mayhew, Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduced and broadcast under OneLicense.net A-701284. ~ The Psalm is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ ~ Closing Hymn: Text and tune are in the public domain. Harmony © 1991 Kevin Mayhew Ltd. All rights reserved. Broadcast under OneLicense.net A-701284.
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St. Columba’s Episcopal Church is an inclusive Christian community of all ages that welcomes one and all, encourages spiritual curiosity, celebrates children and youth, and embraces the world in the spirit of God’s justice and love.
L E A R N M O R E AT C O L U M B A .O R G